Apparatus fob the cure of fractures



I NTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

O. M. ALLABEN, OF MIDDLETOWN, NEW YORK.

APPARATUS FOR THE CURE OF FRACTURE'S.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 1,428, dated December 12, 1839.

To all @hom t may concern Be 1t known that I, ORSON M. ALLABEN,

Y of Middletown, in the county of Delaware and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Machine for Fractures of the Lower Extremities, called An Apparatus for Fracturesf7 and I do hereby de clare that the following is full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which is given a diagonal view, exhibiting the upper surface, right side, and foot of the machinewhen in a horizontal position and a view of the elevating-strap by which it is moved.

Rcfcrcnces.-A, the footboard; B, the extension roller; C, C, C, the footblock; D, the leg portion of the fracture bed; E, E, the thigh portion of the fracture bed; F, the back portion of the fracture bed; G, a

trap-door for the expulsion of the evacu-l ations; H, H, the splint; I, I, the right leg of the machine; J, the sliding joint of the thigh portion of the fracture bed; K, the elevator or strap for elevating the machine; a, a small wheel for managing the extension roller; a brace for sustaining the extension wheel; c, c, hinges on which the footboard turns; d, plate nuts and screws for fastening the splint; e, e, e, e, e, e, transmission holes for the extension cords or splint screen; f, f,

transmission holes for the cords fastening the well foot; g, a groove in which t-he last mentioned cords lie when tied; h, 7L, hinges for attaching the apparatus when used; z', c', spaces for the passage of the bolts of the footblock; 7c, 7c, pins for attaching the extension cords; Z, an iron brace for controlling the joint corresponding to the knee; fm, m, m, m, holes for the insertion of the above brace; n, n, a joint in the machine corresponding to the knee joint; o, o, 0, o, 0, staples for elevating the machine and for attaching straps; p, in for securing the sliding joint; g, g, g, g, ivision in the c ushion to allow the use of the sliding joint; r, a hinge `forming a joint in the splint; s, an iron brace for securing the above joint; t, t, t, t, t, holes in the top of the splint for the transmission of the pelvis st-rap; u, holes for the insertion of the brace s; c, an iron brace for managing the leg and hip joint of the machine; w, w, a joint of the machine corresponding to the hip joint; x, m, holes for the transmission of strap No. 4; e, represents a crank to turn the roller, but any other means will do. 1, pelvis strap; 2, hip st-rap; 3, thigh strap; 4, knee strap.

My apparatus, as a whole, consists of two parts, viz., the fracture bed, and the splint portion.

The fracture bed is about two feet wide and seven feet long, and is composed of three planes, adapted to the receptio-n of the leg, or extremity below the knee, the thigh,`and the back, or body and superior extremities.

rlhe bed is composed of a backboard about two feet wide and one inchk thick, supportedon the back by narrow strips of board nailed across wherever necessary, and side boards of the same thickness, and four inches high, screwed upon the back board in the form of a box, and supported by small prismatic blocks fastened upon the inner angle which is formed by the back and sideboards. The whole is then cushioned from the top of the machine, across which a boardis fastened in the manner of the sideboards, down to that part corresponding to the ankle of the patient, by stretching across from the upper edge of one sideboard to the upper edge of the other stout cloth, as bed ticking, and fastening it to the sideboard, by means of small nails, and then stuliing beneath it oat chaff firmly packed. Y

The three planes are united by means of rule joints, fastened upon the side boards, in such a manner, that the pivots of the hinges shall correspond exactly with the surface of the cushion. The frame of the bed, at the knee joint, is chamfered olf backward to an angle of forty five degrees in each direction, in order to allow the two lower planes to form an angle to that extent backward. The posterior surfaces of the joints is lined, previous to stuffing the cushion, in the same manner as the surface of the bed. The cushion at the joints should be stitched across, previous to the stuiing.

The superior plane is about two feet nine inches long, and has fastened to its sides, a little above its middle, iron staples, fork the purpose of elevating the bed, or the superior plane upon the middle plane, and for the attaching a strap and buckle for the support of the superior plane in an inclination forward upon the middle plane. Upon the upper edges of the sideboards, and about six inches from their lower extremities, are fas tened `small staples for attaching straps t0 pass over the hip and groin of the broken V'limb, for the production of counterextension. VNear the posteriorand inferior angle of the sideboards is a hole, for the insertion of a brace, attached to the middle plane, and

used to prevent the motion of the `hip joint of the machine.

The middle plane is about one foot ten inches long, and of the same width and thickness as the superior plane. Attached to it, on the backside, at the edge, and about two inches from the upper end, which is battened, are legs, fastened with hinges, which allow them to be folded tothe body of the plane, two inches wide at the upper end, and one inch at the lower endone inch thick, andas long as the lower plane. .They have two holes in their outer edge fitted so asto receive the iron brace of the middle plane,

when folded, and when extended. The bottom board of the middle plane atabout` twelve inches from'its upper end is sawed asunder, and each division has sideboards Vfirmly attached, and which slide uponfeach other so as to form a kind of sliding joint.

In the side boards of the upperV section of this plane at one inch from the upper edge, and from'belowupward, is cut a space, one

inch and three fourths wide, andten inches long,and lined upon the inside with ahalf inch board, and battened vupon the outside and lower end with aboard four Vinches square and half an inch thick,`through thc center of which passes a pin, for securing the tongue which itsinto the groove. lThe sideboards of the lower section terminate above in tongues, which Vfit exactly into the .grooves above described, and `which allow an extension of the middle plane of six inches, to adapt it to different limbs.

In the upper section of the'middle plane is a trap door, cushioned separately from the bed, and which swings backV upon hinges 4when stools are procured, and which is retained in its place by'a button; The cushf ionings of the upper and lower portions of the bed terminate with'thfe upper and lower -sections of the middle plane. VWhen the middle plane is extended, the aperture be-V tween the cushions is filled by a temporary cushion, secured by tapes tied overthe aperture behind. At about onethird of the distance of the sideboards, fromV above, and near their back part, is an iron brace, se-V cured by a pin, upon Vwhich it turns, the

other end of which isbentto be insertedinto y the holes in the leg and upper plane for their security. Near the superiorV and posterior angle o f the side boards is a staple, for managing the machine by means `of the elevator.

In the lower section ,of the side boards near their middle are other staples, formanag- 'ing the machine, and givingattachmentto. a leather strap for supporting the upperv upon the middle plane. At the' inferior and other.

posteriory angle'of the lowersection of the side boards, arejiron braces,secured by pins upon which they turn, at one end, and bent at the other,to be inserted into holes in the lower plane. Through the cushion at the joint of the upper and lower planes pass 'leather straps, fastened to the back side of the machine," intended to buckle over the Asion .of the fractured limb, when the'upper i plane is elevated.

thigh and groin,and produce counter-extena The inferior plane of the fracture bed is about two feet or two and a half long, and

of the same thickness as the other planes,"

but two inches narrower, to allow-the passage of the lower ends of the legs,.which are one inch wide,- each, when the legs are folded to the middle plane, and the middle and lower planes are flexed back upon `each are so placed, as, bymeans of the brace, to

sustain the two lower planes inthe position of a double inclined plane, having any desired angle.

to be buckled over the knee of the well leg to keep` it extended. In. the backboard of ythe lower plane, six inches from the center on each side, are cut spaces, commencing at the bottom and extending up eight inches, one half an inch in width, for the passage of the bolt which retain the footblock to the plane,rand which` spaces allow the footblock to move up Aand down on the plane in a variation "of six inches, to adapt the lower plane to the length of different limbs. Across the backboard ofthe ylower plane,

upon its posterior surface and lower end, is

screwed an inch board, two inches wide, to

Vwhich are attachedthe hinges for fastening the foot of the apparatus.

The splint'portion of the apparatus consists of the splint, the footboard, the foot-` block, and the extension roller.

V The splint is made long enough to `reach from the superior surface ofthe footboards, to which one end is attached, `to the spine of the ilium, and consists of two boards, one

' three inches wide 'V and one inch thick, Afand the other two'inches wide and one inch thickjz The edge of the narrow `board is screwed About one foot of the lower surfaceV kThrough the cushion, at the' ljoint of the middle and lower planes, pass straps, fastened to the back of the machine,

uponthe ,center of the' outer surface of the wider board, the inner surface of which faces to the side of the patient. The splint iso t is attached to the footboard, at about siX inches from the center toward one end, on a line with the middle of the foot, and is fastened by means of two plates, with screws and nuts, on the lower ends, which pass through the footboard; one of which is fastened to the middle of the inner' surface of the wide portion of the splint, and the other to the outer edge of the narrow portion` of the splint. In that part of the splint which corresponds to the upper portion of the thigh, is a joint, with a hinge on the outer edge of the narrow board, which allows the upper part of the splint to be thrown back. This joint is controlled by means o-f small iron braces, fastened by pins, on which they move, to the edges of the wide board of the lower section of the splint, and whose loose ends are bent, to be inserted into holes in the upper portion and sides of the same board, which hole are so arranged, as to give vthe upper end of the splint an inclination outward, more or less, to adapt the splint to the widths of dilferent pelves. The general inclination of the splint upon the footboard is outward for the same purpose. Through the narrow board of the upper section of the splint are holes, for the passage of the pelvis strap, and which allow the strap to be passed higher or lower in the splint to meet diderent cases.

The footboard is twenty two inches long, twelve wide, and one thick. It is fastened to the footblock by means of hinges, in such a manner, that its lower edge shall be raised about one inch from the backboard. In the center of its length, and nearly on a level with the cushions upper surface are holes,

for securing the foot of the sound leg; and at about five or six inches from the center toward either end Vare four holes fo-r securing the other foot, o-n one side of the center, and the splint on the other. The splint is secured at the two inferior holes.

The footblock is composed of three pieces, a body and two end pieces. The body is twenty inches long three wide and four high in the middle, but only three inches high toward the ends, to give room for the strings and for the nuts and screws of the splint when the footboard is turned down upon the footblock. The end pieces are about tive inches long, four high, and one thick, and are so fastened to the body, that the anterior and superior edges form a plane with the anterior and superior surfaces of the body. Their lower ends project two inches below the body, to give situation to the extension roller.

The extension roller is twenty inches long and one and three fourths of an inch in diameter. It is placed below the body of the footblock, on a level with its anterior surface. It turns on small gudgeons fixed in the lower ends of the side or end pieces of the footblock, and the extension is rendered permanent by means of a small wheel attached to the gudgeon on the outside of the end piece of the footblock, and retained in its place by an iron catch, turning on a pin at one end, and fastened to the outside of the end piece of the footblock. The gudgeon outside of the wheel is left square, for fastening any apparatus to turn the roller when that is necessary. The splint portion -of the apparatus is fastened to the bed portion by means of iron bolts, which pass through the body of the footblock, op-

posite the spaces in the backboard, and are fastened to the backside of the backboard,

after passing through a half inch crossboard, by means of nuts, which, when loosened, allow the whole splint portion to move up and down on the inferior plane of the bed.

When my machine is used, if it be desirable to use the .long splint, place the patient with `the foot of the sound leg upon the center of the footboard; then pass the splint over the hip joint of the sound limb, fasten it to the footboard at the bottom, and secure the top to the spine of the ilium, firmly, by means of the pelvis strap, buckled around the pelvis; then apply garters, or any other means for extension, to the foot of the broken limb, pass the strings through the footboard, secure them to the roller, and by turning the same draw the foot down to the footboard, and dress the fracture. The knee joint of the sound limb should be secured, by buckling the knee strap over the knee. If the long splint be not used, after securing the foot ofthe sound limb, buckle the strap fastened to the staple in the anterior edge of the sideboard of the superior plane, over the groin and hip of the injured side, to produce counter-extension,

nd then draw down the injured limb as beore.

If the double inclined plane be preferred, j raise the superior plane and secure it by means of the straps and buckles which are attached to the staples in the sideboards of the upper and middle planes, and flex the middle plane backward upon the lower plane, and secure that position, by means of the iron brace of the lower sect-ion of the middle plane, inserted into the holes in the sideboards of the lower plane, and then secure the feet of the patient to the footboard.

The machine is elevated by means of a stout leather strap, split at one end to the distance of three or four feet, with hooks in the end of each portion, to be fastened to the staples in the sides of the machine. The other end of the strap passes over a pulley in the ceiling, placed a little anterior in the ceiling to the place where the foot of the machine is fixed below, and comes down within reach of the patient. The tail or loose end of the elevator is full of holes, to be tted to aninverted hook'placed Where the division in the strap commences. When the patient Would'sit erect, the thigh strap, Which passes through the superiorjoint of the machine, is buckled over the groin and hip, to keep up counter-extension; the pelvis straploosened, the top of the 'splint thrown back, and the superior plane raised upon the middle', by l'the patient fastening the hooks of the elevator to the staple, in

" the sideboards, `and pulling upon the tail ofthe elevator.' `This position may be secured temporarily, by fastening the tail of the elevator to ther-'inverted hook, or'perl` n manently, by means of the side straps. VFrom thisposition the machine mayV beV converted into a sitting chair, by attaching the elevater to the lower staples, and bringing the? lower planes to a right angle, and securing them,;.then attaching the hooks to the middle staples, and bringing the machine erect.

The legs should now belet down and secured with the braces.

Previous toV using, the planesoi` the ma- Y v chine should be reduced to such lengthl asl xmay fit the patient. The best situation for the apparatus is made, bytaking twoplanks, one foot Wide.l and seven feet long, fixing them lon their edges parallel to eachv other,

kone foot and a halffapart, and covering across. l l

When all the joints loit' the machineare secured, lthe Whole may-"be brought erect by the elevator. 'V f l Y The patient may `With the aid of thesplint .be broughtferect, Withoutthe bed, by `buckling a strap aroundthe Waist, With rings' n at the sides,`and attaching-the'hooks?ofthe elevator.

' I All the straps should be properly cush-i ioned and the braces secured by buttons or l tape.

What I claimVIV as my invention, and KWish to secureby Letters Patent, is, Vthe combination ofthe splint, footboard, and extension roller, vviththe `fracture bed-,or chair; y f Y ORSON `M-VALLABENz Witnesses: i

WARREN' DIMMICK,

N. P. CHAMBERLIN.

them withboardsthree feetin length nailed p i 

